Bermuda Triangle Challenge - Part 2 - Expo and Bib Pick Up

 

We met Karen and Christine from Marathon Tours and Travel at the breakfast buffet. As they chose lox and other savory items from the buffet, I explained that I have my own oatmeal and would do fruit and a bagel until Sunday.

"You do what you know works!" Karen said.  

Although the forecast called for rain all weekend, we were treated to wall to wall sunshine. I wore capris and my On the Runs t-shirt to help spread the word about this amazing podcast.

I received a Facebook message from our Bermudian friend Carol asking when I was going to the Expo. I shared with her that we were going at 10 but planned to relax at the hotel. We planned for an 11:30 meet up. I felt the pre-race butterflies begin to flutter. I calmed them with my meditations. I felt antsy but after yesterday's travel day that included over 8,000 steps.Between walking around the airport, souvenir shopping, a stop at Miles Market and the stairs at the Pickled Onion, I knew I needed to stay off of my feet. At 10:00am we headed into the Expo.

 

At the bottom of the stairs that lead to the Expo, we bumped into Deborah Pharoah-Williams and her husband Howard. We quipped about his cooking during the pandemic videos and experienced the joy of seeing people in person instead of social media. I wished Deborah a wonderful race weekend. Howard was support crew and also a race volunteer. We picked up our bibs and race swag. They out did themselves with backpacks and water bottles with a focus on sustainability. A couple offered to take our photo. Part of the adventure of an international race weekend is striking up conversations with other runners. The energy was electric as we exchanged stories of past Bermuda Race Weekends and our goals for the weekend! The couple who took our photo was in their late 70's. He is hoping to be running at least until he is 80 to be 'the last man standing' to take his age group!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miles Market was out of Ruth Anne's favorite Bermuda granola. There was a vendor selling granola who makes granola with his wife out of their kitchen. He suggested we take a taste and it was out of this world! We bought a bag to take home to Ruth Anne. We walked around the Expo and bumped into our dear friend Tony Bean who was taking photos. We hugged and laughed to be together again.

 

 

 

The Bermuda Bookstore booth had a sign that said Deena Kastor would be at the Expo at 1:15pm. We went back to our room to change into our bathing suits and shorts. I waited in the lobby for my dear friend Carol Griffith to arrive. She was running a bit late because she got detained by another runner!

I still get goosebumps remembering this magical moment:

I presented her with a copy of my book "Adventures of Runnergirl 1953." I put my hands on my heart and said, "I don't know if this is possible, but would you be able to come to the finish line to cheer me into the finish?"

"What time do you think you'll finish?"

"Around 2:10."

"Let me check with my husband who is planning to pick me up. I'll message you later today."

She presented me with two made in Bermuda beaded bracelets. "These are for you and Ruth Anne," she said. I was choked up.

We hugged again and wished each other a wonderful race.

 

 

 

 

More relaxing by the pool time before lunch. As we walked from the pool to the hotel, a group of a dozen or so 20-something runners were eating sandwiches on the steps. They were from Boston! We exchanged running stories. They told us about a wonderful sandwich place "just down the street" but to save steps, we had lunch outside at the Crown and Anchor Restaurant. They served the best beyond burger and cole slaw I have ever enjoyed! The service was impeccable. 

We returned to the Expo where Deena Kastor was giving a speech:

I felt goosebumps and chills all over. There was my shero in 3-D living color!

After her pep talk to the runners, she went over to the Bermuda Bookstore booth's table for a book signing. Her deep blue soulful eyes met mine as I shared my journey as a most unlikely runner and how I happened to find myself at the age of 70 years old taking on the Bermuda Triangle Challenge 10K. I told her that I've shared my story on many podcasts incluing, "On the Runs." When she said, "Thank you for bringing your inspiration to our sport," I melted inside and put my hand to my heart. When I presented my dog-eared copy to her along with my notes in preparation for race day she said, "You're a good student." 

"It sounds as though you have a good space in your head for tomorrow, but just remember, if any of that mental preparation isn't working, just take in the views."

"I've done 3 Bermuda Halfs here and know how magnificently beautiful the Island is." 

 "Oh you've been here before. This is my first time!"

 She signed my books:

 

 

and I asked if we could get a photo together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Of course!"

A professional photographer took our photos and he sent them to me.

I thanked her for being an inspiration to me and helping me to prepare for tomorrow's race. She wished me a wonderful day.

The clouds and cooler air moved in but it was amazing to sit and relax by the hotel's Infinity Pool where we met fellow runners. We shared stories and hopes for race weekend. Of course we talked about the weather.

 

I made 5:30 dinner reservations at the Crown and Anchor. Runners with bibs filled the lobby getting ready for the Front Street Mile. I had a traditional pre-race meal of salmon and salad. Tom and I returned to our room for showers, meditation and a good night's sleep. I reveled in the magic of the day, listened to the gentle waves from the canal beneath our balcony and calmed my pre-race jitters with a series of meditations and affirmations. I received a message from Carol that she would be able to stay and cheer me into the finish. She wished me a good night's sleep and said she'd see me in the morning!

 

Tomorrow would be my victory lap!

To be continued....

From my heart to yours

In health and wellness,
Mary

Visit my website to be inspired by my journey. May it ignite a spark within you to go farther than you ever believed you could. Be sure to visit the News and Events Page with links to podcast interviews, speaking engagements and where you can find my incredibly inspirational story.

My books that pack powerful messages of healing, hope and possibilities are available on Amazon

Thank you to Mike Reilly for featuring my story on Stories From the Finish Line Sponsored by CURAD Performance Series to inspire others.

Be sure to subscribe to the On The Runs podcast for stories of individuals who are fierce and determined to overcome challenges, set goals and crush them. Here is the link to my Episode 56.

Be sure to subscribe to their new YouTube Channel to enhance your podcast listening experience!

Be sure to download and subscribe to the AdaptX podcast. Here's the link to my wonderful conversation with host Brendan Aylward sharing my journey of transformation and healing in the wake of polio, Post-Polio syndrome and trauma.

 

Getting Stronger

If you read Julie Silver's book about Post-Polio Syndrome written in 2002, you'll read a cautionary tale about what happens to many people who have contracted paralytic polio. You'll read about progression of symptoms, needing to conserve energy, and accepting disability. You won't read about getting stronger. You won't read about running a race. You will read about adaptive equipment, falls prevention and you certainly won't receive a message of healing, hope and possibility.

Reading Dr. Silver's book and seeking out care at the Spaulding Rehab International Rehab Center for Polio and Post-Polio Syndrome was a place for me to begin my healing journey but I quickly learned that I could not stay in that framework of Western Medicine if I were to heal my life. 

In 2021/2022, I hit a wall in my healing and running journey. I am fairly sure it was a reaction to the 2nd COVID vaccine despite my best efforts at harnessing the power of the mind/body connection to ward off any untoward side effects. 

Fast forward to today when I am training for the 2024 Bermuda 10K. 

The temperatures were cooler than they'd been for the past several weeks and there was cloud cover. I told Tom and Ruth Anne that I needed to include a steep hill in our neighborhood in our four mile training run on Saturday. As we ascended the hill, I was in awe of how I was able to navigate it with relative ease. I recalled the words from Deena Kastor's book, "Let Your Mind Run," "Your job is to be stronger than the hill." In addition to the physical training I've been doing, I have been doing a lot of mental training reviewing the notes I took while reading Deena's book.

I also thought of the above quote how things don't get easier, we get stronger.

There are also many cautionary tales about aging; combine that with the messages I once received from the Post-Polio Clinic and if I listened to those messages, you'd find me sitting on my porch in a rocking chair and using a wheelchair for mobility. Instead I am out the door three times a week to get in miles and one day a week doing strength training to complement my running. {I did find that an extra rest day on Sunday is vital to my training at this time.}A great reference for countering the myths of aging is Counter Clockwise written by Ellen Langer. I am mindful about my thoughts and beliefs as I train feeling strength coursing through me regardless of how I may actually be feeling. Deena Kastor quotes David Thoreau: "We must think over and over again the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives."

"The fatigue was there but I didn't claim it" is one of my favorite quotes from Deena's book. I claim my strength and allow the pain and fatigue to fade into the background. It's vital to both be in my body yet beyond my body to take in the amazing sights and sounds of nature as I did during this morning's early morning run:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It takes but a few moments to capture these magical moments and fuel my connection to Source knowing that every day in every way I am getting stronger and stronger as I train for the Bermuda 10K and continue to heal my life in the wake of paralytic polio and trauma.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness,
Mary

Visit my ***NEW*** website to be inspired by my journey. May it ignite a spark within you to go farther than you ever believed you could. Be sure to visit the News and Events Page.

My books that pack powerful messages of healing, hope and possibilities are available on Amazon 

Thank you to Mike Reilly for featuring my story on Stories From the Finish Line Sponsored by CURAD Performance Series https://tinyurl.com/bdzhtebj to inspire others.

Be sure to subscribe to the On the Runs podcast for stories of individuals who are fierce and determined to overcome challenges, set goals and crush them. Here is the link to my Episode 56 https://tinyurl.com/yckuej6v  Be sure to subscribe to their new YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@OnTheRuns to enhance your podcast listening experience!

Early Morning Miles

When the weather prediction calls for high heat and humidity, the training plan calls for a 5:45am wake up. We were met with a blast of warm, moist air when we opened the door; a sharp contrast to the air conditioning that blasted through our home. We know to not complain about the heat and humidity because all too soon, the vibrant verdant leaves will change and fall and we will need to layer up. What a joy to put on a singlet and shorts and head out the door to greet the new day!

Despite doing a dynamic warm up before our run, I felt sore and stiff. I reminded myself of all that I have read in Deena Kastor's "Let Your Mind Run" and all that I have learned about the mind/body connection during these past 16 years of my healing journey. I spoke lovingly to my body expressing gratitude for all it has given me since I started running in 2008. I reminded myself to stay loose and focus on feeling loose. I knew that if I could create the reality and experience that I wanted for my early morning miles. I knew that I didn't need to push the pace and could relax and enjoy the beauty of the morning.

Tom and Ruth Anne went on to finish their miles while I did a turnaround to finish my miles. As I started going up the hill to our house, I could feel myself quicken my pace. I felt that inner push of needing to make sure I made it to the finish line before it closed; I realized a part of me didn't want to be what they call dfl or dead f***last. I remembered that the last time I pushed my pace that came from worrying about the time limit on race day, I was close to an injury.

I slowed down and reminded myself of the time I ran my first 5 mile road race on a hot July evening at the Marathon Sports 5 Miler.

From "Going the Distance: The Power of Endurance":

After my first road race, The Corrib Pub Run 5K, we signed up for the Marathon Sports 5 Miler in July of 2008. It was hot. It was an evening race. I had just begun my running career.

 

Our first 5 mile race was the Marathon Sports 5 miler. It was a hot, steamy evening in July. We got lost on the way to the race. Tempers were running as hot as the thermometer because I was so anxious about running my first five mile race. My energy tended to wane by the evening as I was continuing to deal with the late effects of polio. We finally arrived and walked around trying to enjoy the pre-race festivities. As everyone took their place at the start, I could see that this was a serious, competitive running crowd; quite a contrast to my first race ever, the Corrib Pub Run 5K in June.

 

Runners went out fast and Tom and I were in the back of the pack with a few other people. Even they took off. I experienced my first (of many) marathon training meltdowns. I cried as I shared with Tom all the memories of having kids take off and leave me behind that were bubbling to the surface. I was sweating and tired and hot. I couldn’t tell where my tears ended and sweat began. I told Tom I had no business training for the Boston Marathon. He was amazing and he told me that I couldn’t quit. We would make it through this race and we would make it through every training run. He believed in me when I did not believe in myself. I did know, however, that if I didn’t finish that race, I would never make it to the starting line of the Boston Marathon. Alison, Brookline Marathon Sports store manager who was named our mother hen during Boston Marathon training, gave me water and a high five out on the course. She was worried about me in the heat and wanted to make sure I was okay.

 

Despite finishing dead last, members of the Marathon Sports family who knew the story of Team McManus, had air horns and a truck on the field honking and blowing and cheering us on to the finish. I knew training for Boston was not going to be easy, but I knew I had what it was going to take to make it happen.

 

As I opened the door to our beautiful home, I stretched and said thank you to my body for all it gives me. I loved feeling the sweat continuing to pour down my back while I got breakfast ready. Cold orange juice, toast and oatmeal with a banana tastes like a gourmet meal after a run. Our morning miles set the tone for a wonderful day. I felt energized and accomplished having more miles deposited in the Bank of Bermuda on the road to the Bermuda 10K. When the pipe burst outside of our house in the late afternoon, and we were told that the water would be shut off, I was able to mobilize to fill pots and water bottles and do the dishes that were in our dishwasher. We debated about what to do about dinner knowing that we are in training and grabbing a pizza on paper plates would not give us the fueling we need. We chose to go to Golden Temple, a restaurant that serves healthy Chinese food with a calm ambiance. The manager warmly greeted us and we explained that a pipe burst outside our house so we just had to come to Golden Temple to have dinner. The waiters treat us like family.

 

We fell into a deep sleep despite the sounds of jack hammering on the street outside our windows. Running is the gift that keeps on giving throughout the day when we start the day with early morning miles.

 

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness,
Mary

 

Visit my ***NEW*** website to be inspired by my journey. May it ignite a spark within you to go farther than you ever believed you could. Be sure to visit the News and Events Page.

My books that pack powerful messages of healing, hope and possibilities are available on Amazon 

Thank you to Mike Reilly for featuring my story on Stories From the Finish Line Sponsored by CURAD Performance Series to inspire others.

Be sure to subscribe to the On the Runs podcast for stories of individuals who are fierce and determined to overcome challenges, set goals and crush them. Here is the link to my Episode 56  Be sure to subscribe to their new YouTube Channel to enhance your podcast listening experience!

Felt Like 87 Degrees!

  

Having an event to train for means no excuses for going on a run especially when it felt like 87 degrees with the heat and humidity. We set the alarm for an early Saturday morning run on the road to the Bermuda 10K. One of the hallmark symptoms of Post-Polio Syndrome was having difficulty regulating body temperature. The body's thermostat was adversely affected by the initial polio virus and I would have difficulty getting warm in winter or cooling off in summer. It's so easy to feel the fear rise up and that my body would not be able to rise to the occasion of a training run in summer after a 6 year hiatus from training for an endurance event.

Re-reading Deena Kastor's book, "Let Your Mind Run" (link to book review blog after I read her book the first time) has been a wonderful tool in my training. I recalled her saying to herself to not think about the heat but rather to take in the surroundings and focus on hydration and fueling. Our mind is an incredible training partner when we harness its power to transform the conditions we are experiencing. Deena is going to be the guest speaker and Ambassador for Bermuda Triangle Challenge Race Weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I reminded myself that every training run is a new starting line releasing the fear that my left leg might experience calf pain or muscle spasms again. I honored Friday as a rest day. I made sure that I hydrated and fueled well along with mental preparation for four miles. I visualized how I wanted the training run to go. Ruth Anne and I took time on Friday to go over the course map and reviewed the photos from when she ran the Bermuda 10K in 2020 with Tom. 

Ruth Anne and I marveled at how much healthier we look and feel now compared to when we visited Bermuda in 2020. Ruth Anne was still in the early stages of her recovery from PANDAS which is well described in this article from Boston College. She is tapering off the last of her medications that had caused weight gain and a whole host of untoward side effects including fatigue. It's a blessing we can do early morning runs especially with the summer heat. I am shedding the weight of the stress of Ruth Anne's illness and Team McManus has a renewed commitment to health and wellness. Tom has switched to decaf coffee. We have improved our nutrition and forego the after dinner summer ice cream in service of our training goals. We DO however enjoy FlavaNaturals for healthy desserts.

At the end of our 4 miler, I pushed a bit as we visualized entering the Stadium and crossing the finish line. It was a solid run from start to finish. 

How wonderful to open the door and have a blast of air conditioned air meet the sweat soaked skin and clothes. We relished our lunch and savored the success of another training run that takes me one step closer to the starting line of the Bermuda 10K and Ruth Anne and Tom closer to Half Marathon #3 at Bay State for Victory Programs. Here is the link to her fundraising page.  Please consider a donation to take her across the finish line of her $10,000 fundraising goal and support this incredible cause that helps to save lives of Boston's most vulnerable populations.

Even though we would have loved to go and sit on the beach on a hot summer's day, we are in serious training mode. Even though it felt like 87 degrees, we deposited another 4 miles on the road to the 2024 Bermuda 10K!

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness,
Mary

Visit my ***NEW*** website at  to be inspired by my journey. May it ignite a spark within you to go farther than you ever believed you could. Be sure to visit the News and Events Page.

My books that pack powerful messages of healing, hope and possibilities that make great summer beach reads are available on Amazon 

Thank you to Mike Reilly for featuring my story on Stories From the Finish Line Sponsored by CURAD Performance Series  to inspire others.

Be sure to subscribe to the On the Runs podcast for stories of individuals who are fierce and determined to overcome challenges, set goals and crush them. Here is the link to my Episode 56   Be sure to subscribe to their new YouTube Channel to enhance your podcast listening experience!

Astonishing! Fabulous Four Miles and a Revised Training Plan

 

My training plan on the road to the Bermuda Triangle Challenge Bermuda 10K was filled with great aspirations; a monthly training run on Heartbreak Hill, fartleks, tempo runs, and hill repeats. After our 3.5 mile training run on Heartbreak Hill, my left calf was a bit sore. Soreness is to be expected when taking on a new challenge. I felt so fantastic after my 'mile time trial' on Thursday, I felt that I was going to set and achieve a goal of a 20:00 minute mile for the Bermuda 10K and finish in a little over two hours. Just remember that for someone who was supposed to spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair, I run pretty fast!

On Friday I wasn't able to take a full rest day due to chores that needed to be done. I was also internalizing stress of a challenging situation happening in our lives. As I know all too well, it's not the situation but how we respond to it that is important. I did a lot of stretching and meditation to prepare for my first 4 miles in several years.

We got up early on Saturday to beat the heat of the day. We stopped to take photos:

I put the phone back in my water belt. As we resumed the run, Ruth Anne asked me if I turned on music. We thought maybe it was from another runner but there was no runner near us. We listened closely and my phone was playing the song, "Astonishing" from Little Women sung by Tony Award Winner Sutton Foster. We stopped to chat with a neighbor and the music kept getting louder until it finally turned off. When I took my phone out, Ruth Anne said she had to take a screen shot of it:

As we went on our way, I could feel my calf muscle tighten. I want to take a moment and note that to feel my calf muscle tighten is a miracle. After a serious knee injury in December of 2014, the MRI indicated, among other things that my gastroc atrophied as a result of the initial polio virus. The physiatrist asserted there was nothing that could be done about it and that's what contributed to the knee injury. But I was blessed to find my way to a chiropractor who believed in the body's tremendous capacity to heal. Using KT tape, chiropractic and harnessing the power of the mind/body connection, we grew a new gastroc muscle! 

About two miles into the run, I experienced a muscle spasm in my calf. I had to stop several times to stretch, hydrate and remind myself of the body's tremendous capacity to heal. Tom and Ruth Anne were extremely patient with me as I needed to take frequent stops to manage the pain and the spasm. My goal was to push and get through those 4 miles. I was able to maintain a 22:12 minute/mile pace as I focused on the scenery around me, the blessing of training for Bermuda, opening up my body rather than contracting into the pain and repeating the mantra, "The power that made the body heals the body."

“Every run may not be good but there is something good in every run.” ~Anonymou

I had an epiphany during a hot shower after the run. The Universe was sending me a message that I am Astonishing whatever time is on the clock. I have a fantastic base of training and have no need to push myself allowing the fears and feelings from the past to dominate my training. Team McManus had a meeting about revamping our training plan. Tom asserted that because we have hills all around us, my body is gaining fitness through the added miles and the consistency of my training. I will incorporate hills into my mid-week runs but there is no need to push myself to achieve a certain goal other than to have fun, stay healthy and cross that finish line with a smile!

As I re-read Deena Kastor's book, {Deena Kastor is the Ambassador and Guest Speaker for Bermuda Race Weekend} "Let Your Mind Run" I am finding nuggets of wisdom that fuel my journey. Taking on the Bermuda 10K is enough of a challenge for me without adding in extra challenges along the way.  

Last night this phrase jumped off the page, "...get to the point where negativity bubbles and I had to be more resilient, more creative,more optimistic and more grateful to emerge stronger from it." I can go right up to the edge that helps me to grow without placing myself at risk for injury. I am listening to my body, making adjustments as needed and trust that I have everything it takes right now inside of me to go the distance! Deena's quote captures what happened to me during those fabulous four miles that tested my mettle and helped me to reach an awareness of how astonishing I am to have overcome the challenges of childhood paralytic polio and trauma; that at the age of 70 after a setback in my health and wellness journey I am taking on the challenge of the 10K distance on the Bermuda hills! 

 
From my heart to yours
In health and wellness,
Mary

Visit my ***NEW*** website to be inspired by my journey. May it ignite a spark within you to go farther than you ever believed you could. Be sure to visit the News and Events Page.

My books that pack powerful messages of healing, hope and possibilities are available on Amazon

Thank you to Mike Reilly for featuring my story on Stories From the Finish Line Sponsored by CURAD Performance Series to inspire others.

Be sure to subscribe to the On the Runs podcast for stories of individuals who are fierce and determined to overcome challenges, set goals and crush them. Here is the link to my Episode 56. Be sure to subscribe to their new YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@OnTheRuns to enhance your podcast listening experience! 

Embracing Hills

 

The first time I did a hill training on 4/20th during this training cycle on the road to the 2024 Bermuda 10K, I stopped about half way up the hill. On the final hill repeat, I struggled to the top of the hill.  I celebrated what I was able to do trusting in my body's tremendous capacity to continue healing and to go the distance again.

This morning, Ruth Anne and I returned to the same hill on Cleveland Road for hill repeats. It's the hill where we trained for the 2009 Boston Marathon. I imagined our personal trainer Janine at the top of the hill with her stop watch telling us to push, push, push. I remembered how Deena Kastor described reeling in her opponent in her memoir, "Let Your Mind Run." I reeled in the Stop sign at the top of the hill as I was able to run the entire distance of the hill! There is a steeper hill opposite the hill on Cleveland Road. Since I know that Bermuda is known for its steep hills on the 10K route, we decided to incorporate the second hill in the hill repeats.

 

When we got to the final hill repeat, I felt the burn in my lungs and nausea. I wanted to stop before we got to the top but I knew this is where the mental AND physical training come together. Ruth Anne was my cheerleader and said, "Reel in that Stop sign. Reel in that Stop sign." I did it! I pushed myself farther and faster during today's hill repeats.

 I am giving myself plenty of time to train for the hilly Bermuda 10K mind and body in January. It's been several years since I trained for an in person road race and it's been years since I trained for anything longer than a 5K. The setback in '21/'22 was physically and mentally painful. While I never gave up on  my health and wellness journey, I had given up on training for any more events. There's a quote in Deena Kastor's book that says, "There's one thing about the mind. It forgets."

 

 

 

 

 

My mind sure did forget. I forgot how much I had done to heal my life and how much I accomplished by running 3 Bermuda Half Marathons after a serious knee injury. The doctor and PT's said it was an injury that would sideline me. They said I should stop running or cap my distance at a 5K and prepare for a total knee in a few years. Coincidentally, a Facebook memory popped up about my reunion with Dr. Ryan Means, the chiropractor who partnered with me after the knee injury. Follow this link to the blog post.

Embracing hills on the roads and in life remind us of our strength and resilience. We can always go a little farther than we think we can. After my hill training I was reminded that the setback is not the final destination. Every training run and strength training workout, especially on the hills, brings me one step closer to destination Bermuda 10K!

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness,
Mary

Visit my website to be inspired by my journey. May it ignite a spark within you to go farther than you ever believed you could. Be sure to visit the News and Events Page.

My books that pack powerful messages of healing, hope and possibilities are available on Amazon 

Thank you to Mike Reilly for featuring my story on Stories From the Finish Line Sponsored by CURAD Performance Series to inspire others.

Be sure to subscribe to the On the Runs podcast for stories of individuals who are fierce and determined to overcome challenges, set goals and crush them. Here is the link to my Episode 56